Monday, 29 August 2011

Ohmigosh. Jillian Venters commented on my blog. *explodes with glee in a puff of pink glitter*

I am so sorry, everyone, for the delay in updating... my computer is STILL out of action! Nonetheless I am trying to get back online on some sort of regular basis soon, and there is now a Big Not-So-Secret Project underway (hint: I'm launching a magazine... more details soon guys!).

Thanks very much to all of you for being so patient, I was worried I'd have no followers left and, well, here you all are! Stick around a little longer, guys, please, as I've been bashing out plenty of articles on my (sadly internet-free) laptop all ready for when I get the interwebs again, as well as working on the Not-So-Secret new project, and I have received some AMAZING items to review. The Goth Guide WILL be back. (Damn this stupid accidental hiatus!)

Monday, 22 August 2011

Hi guys... apologies for not posting or responding to any comments over the weekend... my computer somehow managed to contract 268 viruses all at once and is out of commission, I'm borrowing my dad's computer to let you know you've not been abandoned! Normal service will be resumed as soon as my PC is back from the mender's. And the eBay sale. I even took some pics all ready to upload...

Oh... and I'm thinking of using AdSense after all so that I can pay to register a proper domain name - do you think that would be a good idea??

Anyhoo... just to say I'll be back online within the week for a lot of catching-up to do, sorry for vanishing on you!

Best wishes,
A
xxx

P.S. To the Anon who used to read everyday but now 'doesn't bother' - what scared you off? What do you want to see more/less of?

P.P.S. To the alt model who kindly volunteered to be interviewed, I'd definitely love to get in touch. As soon as I have my own computer back again, let's talk!

Friday, 19 August 2011

Little Monster Hat
I was originally only intending to buy a tutu from this Etsy shop, but as soon as I saw this hat I just HAD to have it. As well as being affordable, it's beautifully warm and very comfy (I have lots of ear piercings and some styles of hat press them uncomfortably into the sides of my head). The colour is fantastic, a beautiful vivid purple that goes brilliantly with black clothes.

I love the little horns (or possibly ears?). This hat couldn't be any cuter! I've nicknamed it my 'monsterette' hat. I did inspect it thoroughly - I don't know if it was hand- or machine-knitted, but either way I didn't spot any holes or flaws. I love the slouchy shape!
﻿

Just chillin'... slightly awkwardly. Bad posture much? :-S

﻿Plague Rat Tutu
Most Goth girls probably own a tutu. They're cute, fun and a little bit dramatic, which makes them an ideal wardrobe staple. I own about five or six, but I've never spent £20 on a tutu before; usually I buy the single-layer £5 neon tutus from alt stores. So this was a step outside my comfort zone! I loved the outfit the model on Etsy was wearing, and spend ages trying to choose between the black and white Contradictions design, and this one. I think I made the right choice.

My biggest worry was that the waistband would be twisted or itchy, but it was neither. The tulle is stiff enough to create a damn good poof but soft enough that it didn't scratch my hips at the waistband. Of course, being a tutu, it's a little bit see-through; however there are so many layers upon layers that you could probably wear it alone over tights if you were daring. In the picture above, I'm wearing a white skirt and bloomers underneath.

Instead of a single layer of scratchy net, there are instead handfuls and handfuls and handfuls of tulle strips that must have taken an absolute age to sew together. The effect is utterly fantastic - it's SO poofy! The sheer amount of fabric alone makes it worth the asking price - this is not a half-assed job.

I wore the tutu to work (as you saw in a recent outfit post) and I don't think I've received so many comments on a single item of clothing. Because it's so enormous, like a proper dance tutu, it's a real attention-grabber; the shy and retiring might prefer a darker colour scheme than vibrant red and white. Pair these bright stripes with the wrong outfit and you look like a circus escapee, but it is more versatile than you might think - I've worn it with two different ensembles so far and am going to experiment with using it as a petticoat to give extra volume to other skirt.

Sunshine Luvs U also does custom tutus, knitted armwarmers and purses, and handy craft supplies like lace. The service was fast and courteous, no complaints there. I would definitely order again, in fact I now have my eye on the Gryffindor scarf...

P.S. If you snap up your own Sunshine creation, please do mention that Amy from the Goth Guide sent you, as she's currently running a competition to win a free tutu. A girl can never have too many tutus... ;-)

I was going to post a picture of it but I can't find it... it's a navy blue Roxy Music concert T-shirt that Dad bought me when he took me to see them live. I was about eight. At the time it came right down to my knees - it's still pretty huge on me now. I've been planning a bit of renovation work to make it into something wearable.

I will admit that in my early Goth years my biggest idol and inspiration was Amy Lee of Evanescence, whilst I still love Amy Lee and have a poster of her on my wall I have branched out a little bit over the years!

Amy Lee

Nowadays I don't really have any idols or role models, but I am very prone to 'Goth crushes'! Visually, my biggest inspirations are Adora BatBrat, Jillian Venters, Wednesday Mourning, a whole bunch of random internet Goths, The Green Fairy, Audrey Hepburn, Lady Amaranth, most of the people photographed by Viona and Emilie Autumn. I don't try to dress like anybody else, but I do note what I like about a person's style and think of ways that I could apply the same principle to my own wardrobe.

When I was first getting into Goth I used to endlessly watch those Goth picture slideshows that you can find millions of on YouTube. I love a lot of very stereotypical 'spooky' imagery - lonely woodlands, graveyards, desolate houses, thunderstorms etc. Often the world itself provides inspiration; when I get writer's block I flick through a bunch of landscape photography books that I keep to hand.

The list of people I find generally inspiring is a long one; for general attitude I'd have to cite Gerard Way, Joji Grey and Jillian Venters.

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

I would have to say yes. Not because I dress like this every day (I do) or because I never ever do anything that 'isn't Goth' (of course I do - I'm a person, not a robot), not even because I like to add a hint of spookiness to as many areas of my life as I can (case in point: I have begun ordering my toiletries from Antisally's Goth Rosary and when I decided it was time to learn to cook I tracked down Gothy cookbooks), but because as of right now I cannot imagine being, or wanting to be, any other way.

Sure, as I grow older my style might change, my taste in music might change, I might even decide that the way forward for me is a career as a Paris Hilton lookalike (fat chance!), but what attracts me, now, to Goth culture is the same as what attracted me to Halloween, fairy tales and eccentric clothing choices as a child, and I don't think it's something I can 'grow out of' - it's part of me, it's who I am.

For me Goth has always been about embracing and indulging that part of me, the weird little kid who genuinely believes there are fairies at the bottom of the garden and a monster under the bed, and as such I have become semi-addicted and frankly obsessed, and Goth has, to a certain extent, taken over or stretched it's black-dipped tentacles into most, if not all, areas of my life.

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

My next victim for Darkside International is charming 'airship pirate and 19th century vampire' Saskia, aka Catacomb Kitten or CatacombxKitten, who lives in Belgium. This elegant dandyette surrounds herself with rats, cats, and a dog named Luca, and you can grab a teacup and follow her cupcake-baking, Voltaire-kissing (!), globetrotting escapades at her blog Graveyard Picnic.

Welcome, Saskia!

Photo by Inge Houwen

How would you describe your style and personal image? How has your look changed over the years?

My style has changed a lot over time and I'm pretty sure it will always keep changing. However there are some thing that have always stayed the same, for instance, I usually prefer looking cute over sexy or tough, since I'm quite short and apparently I look younger than I am. In daily life I usually combine frilly skirts with a more basic top and pretty tights, that's what I feel most comfortable in. When I go out, I add things like a corset, a nice blouse, a fascinator, high heels or platform boots, some more accessories, etc. Sometimes I do feel like looking a bit punky or deathrocky (is that even a word?), but I never feel as comfortable in it as I do in cute dresses and skirts. I also adore Victorian, steampunk and EGL, but unfortunately those clothes are expensive and I'm just a poor, little student.

My first years of getting into Goth were quite embarrassing, as I was a terrible babybat. When I was fourteen, I wore baggy trousers, band shirts and too much eyeliner. After a while I started wearing short skirts and corsets, and from that point on it got better, luckily.

I'm so sorry, there is no secret at all! This is what usually happens when I don't blow dry my hair. On a good day those curls might look good, but there's plenty of days when my hair looks like something has exploded in it.

I do have one little tip: when you have hair cut in layers, either use a curling iron on the longest (inner) layer or on all layers, starting somewhere halfway your hair. This is what I do when my curls mysteriously disappear again. My hair has a will of its own.

Your make-up is often very light and subtle, and unlike some Goths (me, *ahem*) you're not afraid to leave the house in as little as just mascara. What are your basic make-up tips? Do you have any skincare secrets?

This is the least original make-up tip ever, but it's still true: practise! Also, blend your eyeshadow. Other than that, just do what you like and don't care too much about colours you're not supposed to wear because they don't match your eyes or something. The most important thing is that you like it.

I don't really have any skincare secrets, but I would definitely recommend the new Essence 'my skin' creams. I've only recently discovered them, but they're incredibly cheap and work really well. I also recommend them to a friend of mine, and she says it also helps when you've got sunburn. Definitely worth the try, I'd say.

Has your style ever gained any negative reactions from 'normal' folk? What are the best (and worst!) comments you've received?

I live in a small village with lots of old, close-minded people, so I do get a lot of (angry) stares when I'm walking down the street, but that's usually it. There's several other Belgian cities (Antwerp and Mechelen for example) where I always get shouted at, but that might also have something to do with being a girl. When I go out in Leuven (which is where my university is) I hardly ever get stared or shouted at, one of the reasons why I love being here.

The best comment I got was an old lady in a book store, who was fascinated by the cat ears on my hood. She kept smiling and called her husband to show 'how cute' I looked. I never really know how to act in such situations, but it does make me happy to get positive comments.

The worst ones were all in the first three years of secondary school. I only had a couple of friends, I was completely ignored in class, then bullied through msn and people always talked about me loud enough, so I could still hear it. Needless to say changing schools was the best decision I ever made.

Who are your biggest inspirations (in fashion and otherwise)?

I find it hard to really refer to people, as I get inspired by lots of things. I browse Tumblr daily (I'm not addicted, I swear!) and I love looking at pretty pictures on other people's blogs, DeviantArt or watching tutorials on youtube. I'm also lucky enough to have a couple of friends with great fashion sense, they're also very inspiring to me. To give a couple of names... Voltaire, David Bowie, Adora Batbrat, Razorcandi, Mister Joe Black, Vecona, Amanda Palmer, Emilie Autumn and, very cheesy but true, Tim Burton. And most importantly, my mother has always been one of my biggest inspirations, both in fashion and otherwise.

How do you feel about the Belgian Gothic scene? What are its highlights and what would you like to change about it?

To be honest, the Belgian Goth scene is not all that impressive. It's not that there are not many Goths, but that there's not many interesting parties, the only 'real' Goth party with new wave, deathrock, etc. (Fresh from the Grave in Ghent) doesn't exist anymore. There are several cyber parties (Vampireparty in Antwerp, Nocturna in Ghent) and some parties with mixed music (Bunkerleute in Leuven, Night of Darkness in Waregem), though. Other than those, every now and then there's a ball or another special event, but those are not on a regular basis.

What I think is worst, we don't have one real Goth club in Belgium. There are several metal and rock bars, but that's not the same.

The highlight of the year would be Shadowplay (formely known as Gothic Festival). I didn't go this year, but it's the Goth festival in Belgium. Even when the bands are not great, the atmosphere still is.

I would say, if I could change something about it, I'd definitely want at least one decent Goth club and more parties. I'd love to organise events too, but sadly, I really don't know anything about such things.

If I came to visit you, where would we go to see the best of dark and alternative beauty and culture in your area?

If you really wanted to see people dressed up to the nines, a ball might be a good place to go. Unfortunately, I haven't been to any of the Goth balls yet, so I have no idea whether they're fun (I've heard both positive and negative comments), all I know is that there are many impressive outfits to spot. Other than those, Shadowplay would probably be the place to be. I always like looking at all the pretty people at festivals.

What attracted you to Goth culture? How do you think you would express your 'dark side' and your creativity had you not discovered it?

Ever since I was little, I enjoyed dark things, books, movies, etc. I adored books by the Dutch 'Griezelgenootschap' (which loosely translates to 'Horror society'), especially those by Paul van Loon. He wrote scary children's books about little boys who also happened to be werewolves, a 'horror bus' and a family consisting of a zombie, a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost. When I was 9, I really, really wanted to give a horror party for my birthday. When I was twelve, we went on a holiday to Whitby for an article my mother was writing on Dracula. We found several alternative shops and I realized that I really liked all the clothes that they had there. At that time I also started nagging to be allowed to dye my hair black. I've definitely had a love for all things dark and spooky (almost) all my life, the clothing and music simply came a bit later.

I find it very difficult to imagine not being part of the Goth culture, as I feel as if it has been a part of me all my life. I suppose I would write dark prose and poetry and read lots of scary books. I don't think I'd feel very good about myself, though. Discovering the Goth scene has made me feel less insecure and happier in general.

What are the 'essential' bands in your music collection, and do you have any new discoveries to recommend?

My favourite 'band' is without a doubt Voltaire. He's hilarious and he has some really beautiful and deep songs, too. Other favourites are Emilie Autumn, IAMX, Amanda Palmer/Dresden Dolls, David Bowie and London After Midnight (which was my first Goth band ever, by the way).

As for new discoveries, if you like Dresden Dolls or Amanda Palmer, you should definitely give (Mister) Joe Black a listen. I discovered him at Voltaire's concert in London, his songs are incredibly funny, he's really charismatic and he looks great, too. I've also recently discovered a band called 'The Cog is Dead'. They call their music steampunk with influences from rock & roll, russian folk, ragtime and movie scores. 'The Death of the Cog' is my favourite song so far.

You often travel abroad to attend concerts (most recently Voltaire and the Scary Bitches in London!). What have been your best and worst travelling experiences? And what was the best live performance you've seen?

To be honest, I'm not as fond of travelling as most people, unless it's for a concert. However, so far, I haven't had any really bad travelling experiences. A bit of a downer was how expensive everything in London was, but I could have expected that. Our hotel and train turned out to be twice as expensive as we had planned. Luckily my parents are great; they paid the entire trip for me.

As I've mentioned before, visiting Whitby has made a huge impact on me, so that would definitely be one of my best experiences so far. Also both Oslo and London, where I travelled together with my friend Sara to see Voltaire, were amazing. Oslo is so beautiful in winter and in general it's not that expensive to travel to. I had been to London before, but never to Camden, so that was quite the experience as well!

As for live performances, Voltaire is number one on my list. I've seen him twice now (in Oslo and in London), and I'd travel anywhere (at least, in Europe) to see him again. It's not that his show is so impressive, because it's just him and his guitar, but he's so sympathetic, there's lots of interaction with the audience and he's simply hilarious. He also makes so much time for his fans and you can see he actually appreciates and even loves every single one of them, it's amazing.

At his show in London I also discovered Joe Black, who immediately gained a place in my top five of best live performances ever. He's hilarious and has an amazing voice. Emilie Autumn's show is also quite the spectacle, I've seen it four times now and I'm still not bored of it.

Other great live acts are Amanda Palmer/Evelyn Evelyn, The Birthday Massacre, London After Midnight and Scary Bitches. Oh, and HIM. I'm not even ashamed.

What does 'Goth' mean to you?

The easy way out would be to say that I agree completely with Voltaire's opinion on Goth and I definitely do, but for me there's more to it than that. To me, Goth is something I couldn't live without. It's always there in my daily life. It's the music I listen to, it's the clothes I wear, it's the way my room looks, it's my friends, it's how I make new friends, it's the books I read., it's the films I watch... Simply put, it's a name tag that will tell me whether I'll like something (which does not mean I only like things that are Goth) and that plays an important role in my daily life and my way of thinking.

In a more philosophical way, it means finding beauty in things that are dark, spooky and macabre, or in general in things that are not obviously beautiful; also being able to not take yourself too seriously and having a rather dark sense of humour. Appreciating the fact that sadness is a part of life, just as much as happiness is, and actually cherishing that melancholy. Being a black sheep (pun not intended) and being happy that way, because you're simply being yourself.

Image from Graveyard Picnic

As a karate brown belt, you are better equipped to defend yourself from unfriendly attention than many Goths! How did you get into karate? Has it ever helped you out of any sticky situations?

I can't even remember getting into karate. One day my mum proposed for me to do martial arts, and I liked that idea. Other girls my age did ballet, but that didn't interest me at all. I started practising karate when I was six and I never stopped (except during the exams, of course).

Luckily, I've never had to really defend myself with karate, but it does help me to scare off annoying men who think Goth girls are easy (and there's too many of them). In the first place, it makes me feel safer when walking down the street at night.

You spend a lot of time baking sweet treats and are a lover of tea. What would you serve at your own Mad Tea Party?

Oh, I definitely want to host a Mad Tea Party one day! There would definitely have to be all kinds of cupcakes, it would be a great opportunity to try decorating them in an Alice in Wonderland theme. I'd also want loads of macarons de Paris with different flavours and colours. And a spiderweb cake! It was an invention of my mother for one of my birthday parties. It's a regular sponge cake with white icing and a chocolate spiderweb. In Voltaire's 'Paint it Black, a Guide to Gothic Homemaking' there's also a recipe for a graveyard cake, so that would be a great opportunity to try baking that one, too.

Other than that, there should be enough tea to choose from. Right now I've got about 25 kinds of loose tea, so that shouldn't be a problem.

As a movie and TV buff, what films and shows would you recommend to those of a Gothy inclination?

As for shows, True Blood, definitely! I was hesistant to watch it at first, because of the entire Twilight craze that had kind of put me off vampires, but now it's my favourite show ever. The entire situation is still quite realistic, which it what makes it great; it's as if it would actually be possible for vampires to live (more or less) peacefully among humans. There's quite a few amazing, hilarious and well-dressed characters and the story is very good (even though the first season is a bit slow at times). The only thing I hate about True Blood, are the cliffhangers.

Another show I recently discovered and turned out to be amazing, is Game of Thrones. The story is quite complicated to explain in a couple of lines, but if you like fantasy and medieval settings, you'll definitely like this. It reminds me a lot of Lord of the Rings, but Sean Bean playing one of the main characters might have something to do with that.

A last recommendation would be The Hunger, a cult TV series from the nineties. Every episode revolves around a different story, usually it has something to do with taboos. In season two, the show's host is David Bowie, who plays an extravagant artist. There's a lot of inspiring and dark quotes, it's very impressive and quite scary, at times.

About films, I always say to myself that I have yet to find the perfect film. I'm pretty sure that when I do, it will be one by Tim Burton. Other than his films, I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes (the one from 2009, they're making a sequel right now) very, very much. The clothing, the atmosphere and the story were great, and it even had some steampunk elements. In the same atmosphere, there's also Dorian Gray, an adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel, but I'm not a big fan of it, as it's not exactly true to the book. A final film that I'd like to recommend is The Hunger – yes, same name as the TV series, but something completely different, although David Bowie plays one of the main characters again. It's a very good vampire movie and the first scene is a clip of Bauhaus' video for Bela Lugosi's Dead, so that says enough.

I know it's a cheesy question, but where do you see yourself in five or ten years' time? What are your hopes and dreams for your future?

Of course I'd like to have a steady relationship when I'm 30, and that also seems like a right time to start thinking about children, but that doesn't really appeal to me just yet. As for a job, I don't really know. Until recently I really wanted to become a teacher, and I started studying literature and linguistics (Dutch and English) two years ago with that idea. However, I've heard other teachers' bad experiences and I'm not so sure anymore. I'm still extremely passionate about language, but I guess I'll have to find something else to do with it, maybe something for radio or TV. I'm not really worried, though. I've still got a few years to figure out what I want to do.

And of course, I'd like to keep dressing as I do now, but I know that's practically impossible. Many of the things I wear now would look absolutely ridiculous on a 30-year old, so I'll try to enjoy it while I still can. I'd probably dress down most of the time, but I hope I'll still attend enough Goth events to be able to wear some pretty clothes every now and then. Maybe then I'll finally be able to afford and wear some lovely Victorian outfits, so maybe that is something to look forward to after all!

A tiny note: to the blogger who has been subtly editing my posts (namely this one and this one) and re-posting them, please don't. I have been enjoying your blog but I would prefer not to see my own work there without permission or credits. I have not named or linked to you and your startlingly familiar-looking posts but will do so if this continues. Thanks.

Day Ten - What do you hate and love about the subculture?

I hate elitism. I figure that to a certain extent that those who have been around in the scene since the 80s or before have a certain right to roll their eyes at the rest of us floundering newbies, but I don't like it when younger Goths or other know-it-alls go about denouncing strangers on the internet or at a club as 'not real Goths' because of silly little things like a fashion choice or a band they like. (Similarly, I do frown at blog taglines such as '98% of things referred to as Goth are dreadful, this is for the 2% of brilliant', because whilst promoting your own aesthetic is a fun thing to do - I do it all the time - there's no need to go shitting on what other people like.)

It is extremely difficult to 'get Goth wrong' (not including fashion mistakes, which we all make from time to time...). Enjoying dark music (including, preferably, some actual Goth bands...), fashion, and probably art and literature - I'm not even sure how it's possible to get that wrong. I'd go so far as to say that everyone who ticks the above boxes and wants to be 'a Goth' is, in fact, a 'real Goth' (even if they are a faintly obnoxious person; Goths are generally nice people, yes, but at the same time they are people, and not all people who like dark music and black clothes are going to be charming or friendly) - it's not like you have to pass an entrance exam!

So those who get up on their high horse and go about denouncing others as 'not real Goths' usually only succeed in making themselves look insecure, snobby, and really a little bit sad.

For me on my usual club visits, you could tick 'reluctant non-Goth friend' and, embarrassingly, 'stripper dance'.
Source: Gothic Charm School on Tumblr

What do I love about the subculture? So many things, but here are a few! Firstly the reassurance that hey, liking cemeteries in winter, flickering candlelight, shlocky horror B-movies, bats, music in a minor key, Halloween, faerie tales and all things spooky is actually more normal than the mainstream would have us believe - in school such things tend to earn one the 'weirdo' moniker, but when you go on to discover the Goth community and discover that there are tens of thousands of people who share similar interests and fascinations you soon realise that you're not weird or a 'freak', you're just a different blend of normal with a different perspective on the world...

Secondly, the aesthetic is a big draw for me. I love what could be described as the 'basic' Goth look - black, boots, lace etc - but I also enjoy the fact that you can mix'n'match styles from other subcultures that you appreciate (hence the crossovers with steampunk, Lolita etc.) so there is a constant and endless variety of looks that you can create and experiment with. I love being experimental, although I don't always get it right.

Thirdly (and this one is shallow!), the fact that in a Goth club I can dance like an idiot (I will get Dan to video me sometime; I'm really not the greatest dancer but unfortunately for my fellow club-goers I do love to dance!) and no one stares or comments! Locally at least, there is usually a handful of really brilliant dancers, one or two total train wrecks, and then the rest of us who fall somewhere in between. Which means I never have to feel self-conscious. ;-)

I approach this post with a mix of dread and apprehension; this blog was never intended to focus heavily on myself (although you wouldn't believe it from my camwhoring - sorry about that), in fact at the very beginning when this site was still my little Piczo baby I intended to remain anonymous. However, dear reader, I do have more reasons for posting what amounts to a personal journal entry than simply the advancement of an ego that already dwarfs England, Wales, and the southernmost parts of Scotland.

Firstly, to show concerned parents of babybats that living la vida Gothic doesn't consist of sitting in a dark room listening to music, smoking opium in seedy bars, or bloodletting and filing one's teeth (at least not all the time). Secondly because I consider some of my readers to be my friends, and when interesting (or awful) things happen I want to tell my friends about it. And thirdly because the great responses to my 'behind the scenes' Gothing-up post and my daily outfit photos have been pretty encouraging (so it's your fault!), so I wanted to take those kinds of posts one step further.

Admittedly there is a lot of 'me' going on here at the Goth Guide right now, between reviews, Goth challenge posts and daily outfit photos, but worry not - I have no intention of neglecting all my other regular kinds of posts as well. Including the fashion style posts - I'm just spacing them out a bit more so I don't run out of material too soon! If - and only if - you guys like 'Goth Life', I will make it a semi-regular occurrence. If not, consider this a one-off to let you know what is going on in my world right now.

I'm writing this on my laptop in my bedroom at eleven o'clock at night. My bedroom looks like something exploded, which should go some way towards explaining why it's taking me so long to get my oft-promised sale up and running. I'm tired after a day at work, but buoyed by the knowledge that I will actually have gainful employment until Christmastime at least, and extremely proud of my other half, Dan, who this evening rang with news of his promotion - from temporary van driver's assistant to full time 'office bitch'. I hear that's the technical term, which, I guess, makes me the office bitch's bitch.

My pit. It's actually worse facing the other direction. I am a Gothslob...

This month has been a tricky one to negotiate. I think everyone must have those times when each new day unfolding feels like a trek across a minefield. Earlier this month my mum was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, tricky to pronounce and trickier to cope with. To begin with we thought we were dealing with a trapped or compressed nerve that would be alleviated with physiotherapy or - worst case scenario - some minor surgery. But no, a serious progressive illness it is. Mum is the stoic one in the family and so to all appearances life continues much as usual, although there is now growing pressure on yours truly to find a permanent job and of course learn to drive.

Stoic or not the news has hit everyone hard, and there are good days and bad days for all the family, especially Mum herself. I'm sure you will understand that as the illness progresses there may be times when I can't post as often as I would like; my nan also has health issues and as Mum becomes less physically able I will need to step up and take care of them both. Yikes.

In other, more cheerful news, my birthday is rapidly approaching. Despite the fact I absolutely loathe cooking, I for some reason decided it would be a great idea to throw a vampire-themed dinner party and spent £15 on The Vampyre Cookbook by Leah Barrows. Now, I know very little about cooking and all things kitchen, and unfortunately I think that Leah's recipes expect one to have at least some rudimentary knowledge in this department. Nonetheless I have forged ahead, and have been testing my experimental menus on poor Dan. On the plus side, so far only one has made him vomit. (Apparently cocoa powder in abundance makes him sick. I will try to remember that in future.)

Full of post-its!

My parents managed to land me a pretty good birth date, accidental though it may have been. Not only does my birthday fall on International Talk Like A Pirate Day (a fun fact I just can't tell people enough) but it's also in September, which means that all the stores are bringing out their Halloween goodies ready for October. I was pretty ennui-laden about Halloween last year, but now I'm already craving black-and-orange stripes and spiderweb socks. My shop manager, by the way, has asked me to take charge of the window displays for Halloween, which pleases me. Talk about using your assets.

A post on Sebastian Columbine's Tumblog drew my attention to the fab range of bath and body goodies available for Halloween. I had never considered the possibility of Goth-friendly hand sanitiser before, but now my eyes have been opened to a whole new world. A quick Etsy search later, and I now have bat soaps and steampunk deodorant (yes, really) on my must-have list. If only I could stop spending money on random frivolities long enough to actually buy anything on my must-have list...

Monday, 15 August 2011

Haha... this is actually a really difficult question! I even listen to some country... and yes, I like Katy Perry, Lady GaGa and Rihanna. In my early teens I used to listen to a lot of Eminem, and I still like The Black-Eyed Peas, which means that the supposedly obvious anti-Goth genres pop, country and rap are all out...

I know - jazz! I don't hate it, I just don't really... get it. The boyfriend likes a lot of strange things including drum'n'bass (like it) and acoustic rock (...meh) and apparently also jazz (a recent discovery), but I just can't get into it. I enjoy listening to most kinds of music as I can appreciate a good voice or a talented instrument player, but even though jazz musicians are often very talented the genre does nothing for me. :-/

For Still Dark's very first Movie Monday, I wanted to do an outfit inspired by my favourite movie, Pan's Labyrinth. Sadly I didn't get chance to do so, work was pretty full-on today and yesterday I was of course 'busy' shopping. :-(

So instead, we have a review.

I first watched Pan's Labyrinth with my mum when I was fifteen or sixteen. Yes it's in Spanish, but being a quick reader I have never minded subtitles. I'm glad I braved it, as to say that I am obsessed with this movie would be a mild understatement. If you like your faeries scary, this is the Monday night movie for you.

Source: Google

Against the bloody backdrop of World War II, our young heroine Ofelia finds herself escaping the increasingly dire circumstances of her home life, where her mother is carrying the child of a brutal, deranged captain in the army of fascist Spain, by stumbling into the dark and equally dangerous world beyond Pan's Labyrinth. Pan, the faun (although if you're thinking a cute and cuddly Mr. Tumnus think again), reveals himself to Ofelia when she follows a faerie to the heart of his maze, and tells her that she may be the reincarnation of a faerie princess. Ofelia has to carry out three tasks to prove her birthright and re-enter her own realm.

It may sound like a fairy tale, but it beats the Brothers Grimm hands down for some dark, disturbing and downright scary moments. It's hard to decide whether the 'real world' (where Ofelia's kind nanny is secretly helping rebel forces, her mother's pregnancy is suffering complications, and her relationship with her 'new father', the Captain, is not exactly flourishing) or the faerie world, which boasts some genuinely frightening dangers (yes, I had nightmares about the child-eating... thing) and where Pan's true intentions are not always clear, could be more dangerous.

Throughout the movie it is never made clear whether Pan and his world are the imaginary creations of a frightened, suffering child, invented to cope with the increasingly nightmarish reality she is facing, or whether they are as real as day.

There are some scenes of torture and some bloody violence, but I found that these were not half as unsettling as the underlying sense of supernatural menace that accompanies Pan and his fellow fae. For me, the faerie realm and its creatures were what made the movie so breathtaking and what has kept it at the top of my top-ten for several years. It helps that this is also a visually stunning movie - with a twist in the tail.

This is a Wonderland-esque fable for adults, and though it is in places gory and miserable, there is something unrelentingly enchanting and magical about it. A must-see for the discerning Goth.

Sunday, 14 August 2011

I'm not sure if countries outside of the UK hold car boot sales, I expect they do, but I'm not sure! If you do live in a bootsale-free country, you're missing out on a wonderful tradition wherein we crazy British load up the boots of our cars (that's 'trunks' if you're in America) with our unwanted goods, park up in a field and sell 'em to other crazy Britishers at rock-bottom prices. I've sold my own unwanted crap at bootsales before, but today was all about the buying...

A puppy!

Bronwyn, Her Royal Cuteness, tries on a jacket.
You can't see exactly how gorgeous she is here. Everyone who meets her has an 'OMG' moment. Seriously. My homeirls are pretty. <3

Babybats, do not turn your nose up at rummaging around at a bootie. Sure, it doesn't sound like fun (rummaging through old people's bric-a-brac and secondhand lipsticks, woohoo...) but if you grab a few friends it's a great way to spend a morning and pick up what amounts to a more original version of a Goth-in-a-box kit without having to set foot in your local ridiculously expensive alt store.

However, bear the following in mind:

Wear suncream! There is no shade, anywhere.

Bring a jacket - there's no shelter either.

It's easy to get carried away and start buying junk you don't need, so try to keep in mind a) your ideal look, b) what things you are actually looking for and c) the fact that if you buy stuff you don't really want you'll only have to get rid of it a week later.

There is no cash point and nobody has a card machine. Duh.

Try your hand at haggling - most people at booties just want to get rid of stuff and not have to take it home again, so you might be able to wangle a lower price.

Best: Working in a retail store as a flamboyantly-dressed Gothling means that I get some sort of comments on my attire on pretty much a daily basis. Mostly these are positive. I once stood and turned red to the roots of my hair whilst a woman waxed lyrical on how 'beautiful' I looked for ten whole minutes. Which is probably up there as a best experience.

But the one that really sticks in my mind does so because at the time, I had never received any comments on my Goth clothes, be they good or bad. I was still firmly in the babybat stage, in the first few months of my foray into Gothdom to be more precise. In fact I was still wearing my long, straight black hair combed diagonally across to completely cover half of my face. :-/

I was at the theatre with my mum, watching Dan, who at the time was a drama student in college, performing in a play. During the interval a little old lady tapped me on the shoulder and demanded, "Are those GOTHIC boots?"

Worried, I said yes, expecting to be denounced as a devil worshipper or something. The woman - who must have been pushing 80, at least - smiled and said, "Well done, dear. I wish I'd done that at your age."

Worst: This was also when I was quite new-to-Goth, aged about sixteen or so... I was walking with another babybat friend (she later 'grew out of it') and a friend of hers into town, when a group of very young boys, aged ten at the most, started throwing stones and chunks of brick at us. It's not the worst that could have happened - they were only kids, after all, and had I started walking towards them they probably would have run away - but it was quite alarming because a large chunk of brick, when thrown, obviously has the potential to do some damage. Their parents could do with keeping their brats under control...

Saturday, 13 August 2011

This is a live video so it isn't that great, sadly, as I am 100% addicted to this song at the moment and listen to it almost constantly. To the point I'm considering getting the song title 'Grit Girl' tattooed on my knuckles (unlikely to actually happen, though). I love the hypnotic beat, especially in the intro! Not enough people have heard of this fantastic band.

Dyonisis

This is Arachne's Song, it's so beautiful! I have loved Dyonisis ever since I first heard them...

Hannah Fury

I'm not even going to describe Hannah Fury's amazing songs in words. Just listen.

Johnny Hollow

It took me forever to choose which Johnny Hollow song to post as a lot of their tracks sound very different from each other! I also recommend Alibi, Boogeyman, Devil's Night (3am remix) and Rasputin. It's great to finally see an official video from this group, mainly because one of their members is the genius artist behind My Pet Skeleton!

Pretentious, Moi?

Can't hear this song without singing along. I rave about this band continually, I can't express how god damn fantastic they are. LOVE THEM. Incidentally, the singer is either engaged to or has by now already married Lady Amaranth, the incredible Goth model. I know because she told me. When I met her. ^^ Stamp my Goth card now, please.

BAK XIII

So Pretentious, Moi? was today's Goth rock fix, now please enjoy something a little... bleepier. This is my current ring tone!

The Birthday Massacre

If you took the blueprint for my ultimate dream song out of my head, you'd probably get this. Can't get enough of TBM.

Diva Destruction

Incredible voice. Incredible music.

Inkubus Sukkubus

The drumming on this track is incredible beyond words. When I was a Wicca-loving, Halloween-obsessed pre-teen, this song would have been my ANTHEM.

RazorBladeKisses

Cute but creepy! Yay!

There are so many more that it pains me to narrow down the list, and I'm trying to post bands I've never posted about before (my favourites being Emilie Autumn, The Cruxshadows, Ashbury Heights, The Birthday Massacre and The Cure) so I've got to be cheeky and say, also check out Cinema Strange, Bella Morte, Voltaire, Covenant, Rhea's Obsession, Corvus Corax, Rasputina and Carfax Abbey. To name but a few.

Even if you have just gotten into Goth music and/or don't like a lot of it, my tastes cover quite a wide spectrum of what can be considered 'Goth' so you may find something on this short list that you are intrigued by. ;-)

Apologies to future readers if any of these videos have died, please go Google these bands!

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Perhaps I should stop poking my nose in to random episodes of web-based stupidity, but I'm not entirely sure that I can help myself. First we had Perez Hilton's moronic fans picking on poor Adora; then there was the ridiculous 'Muslims can't be Goth' debacle. Now some poor person on Teh Interwebz is butthurt because their brother wants to date a Goth girl. Shock. Horror.

Asks 'Poor', "How do I stop my brother from dating a Goth chick?", and elaborates, "A Goth chick? My brother is a freaking idiot, how do I stop this?"

Answers include, "Tell him that she's cheating on him," and "Tell him that Goth people worship the devil."

Yes! Dammit, how dare your brother be able to see past appearances and make his own decisions about who to date! This is awful! Let's ask strangers on the internet to make comments on his personal life (as, incidentally, I am now doing) because surely, YOU should have final choice in who your brother is allowed to date. Obviously. /endsarcasm

The thing that freaks me out most about this is not the fact that Poor clearly feels that one must be a 'freaking idiot' in order to date a Goth (gee, thanks) but that they think it's perfectly all right for them to try to sabotage their sibling's love life. Harsh, much? I wonder what said brother would think if he happened to stumble across Poor's post whilst browsing.

Anyway, as I have mentioned before, there is no reason (other than, apparently, scarily judgemental siblings) why Goths and non-Goths cannot have successful and loving relationships. (Here's me and my non-Goth boyfriend of seven years.) If Poor bothered to get to know this Goth girl, they might discover that she is probably much like many other girls, and likely to enjoy reading, music, dancing, movies, make-up and fashion, which Poor would probably be able to identify with if they hadn't taken one look at her and assumed her interests were limited to Scary Goff Things.

Oh, hey, I almost forgot, I got Twitter! Not sure if it will be worth keeping as mostly I'm posting daft things and random links, you guys will have to let me know if you like it. -------> (It's over there somewhere!) Cheers darklings! <3

So after enjoying yesterday's beautiful sunshine, at the risk of a *shudder* tan, I spent the evening with a bottle of TruBlood and the new Morbid Fashion e-book, which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. Author Zellain describes it as a guide for the grown-up Goth looking to create their ideal wardrobe, but I strongly felt that it would also be of great help to those just getting started in the Goth scene, as it provides invaluable advice on how to achieve your perfect look.

The e-book's proper and distinguished title is Morbid Fashion: A Basic Guide to Identifying & Creating Your Grown-Up Gothic Style. At a compact 78 pages for the $10 price tag, are you getting enough bang for your buck? Most certainly. As well as advising on how to identify, collate and organise inspirations, Zellain covers closet clearing and organisation (a must for all of us at some stage or another, and yes there are some helpful tips in this chapter that I never would have thought of), building your wardrobe (with advice on seasons, colour, shopping and plus-size fashion), reference and resources (guess who gets a mention! You too, Ashlee at A Mortal Doth Approach, Hexotica, Black-Clad In Korea, Still Dark @ Heart, Miss Vermillion and VictorianKitty at Sophistique Noir! Goth points galore for us.. ;-)).

However, because I am perverse, my favourite parts of this e-book were not the useful, practical sections offering plenty of helpful advice (including the BEST tip for dark clothing care that I have ever read) but the sections where Zellain has waxed lyrical on what precisely she means by 'grown-up Gothic style', why it's OK if you secretly find Victoria Beckham more inspiring than Siouxsie, different style themes including "Eco Goth" and "Country Goth", and how you can turn closet organising into a way of revamping your decor. I was also intrigued by her mentions of her personal style, which she terms "Yuppie Goth". The only section I skim-read rather than obessively devouring was the 'How To Shop...' section, and only then because I know I will return to it as-and-when for reference and advice.

"Style", in Morbid Fashion terms, covers not just one's attire but also accessories, home decor, and a smattering of make-up, making it even more practical and helpful to established 'grown-up' Goths and floundering babybats alike. If you're expecting Zellain to tell you what to buy or how to dress, you're wrong - this book is geared towards helping you figure out exactly what works for you: to glean exactly what you desire from your style and then learn how to rock it.

Zellain's obvious patience in research, compiling information (from links and resources to basic but necessary stuff such as clothing care, underwear shopping and the shelf lives of cosmetics) is admirable and has definitely paid off. I have not dared to start clicking on some of the links under 'Independent Gothic Friendly Clothing, Accessories, Cosmetics and Jewelry Designers' (side-note: as an English person, it actually pains me to type 'jewelry' instead of 'jewellery' but I'll let you Americans have it your way this time...) because my bank balance might not survive the experience.

All in all, when I said 'invaluable' (twice), I wasn't joking. Whether looking to re-vamp your wardrobe or build an entirely new one, whether you want to pinpoint your inspirations or learn more about the intricate world of dark fashion, or even just check out the links, this is for you. Top marks, Zellain.

You can read a preview and add the Morbid Fashion e-book to your reading pile here.

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

There are many well-known female superstars of the Goth scene, if I may use such a term, like Adora BatBrat, Elvira, Siouxsie Sioux, Wednesday Mourning and others. But what about the guys? Here, for the delight and delectation of you boys and ghouls alike, are (in no particular order) a few of the best-dressed, most beautifully made-up, dramatically experimental and famously inspirational gentlemen in the scene, ever. Better yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg - there are many more out there.

Perish - fetish performer, photographer and model. There are no words for this man's outrageous gorgeousness and boundary-breaking concepts. Please go ogle his Model Mayhem account to see what I mean (some photos not suitable for younger readers!).

Perish
Image (c) Mathew Cooke / Perish Fashion

Robert Smith - infamously tousle-haired and lipstick-besmeared frontman of seminal band The Cure. A style icon and inspiration to Goths of both sexes since the 80s.

Source: Google Images

Johnny Slut - from the band Specimen, of Batcave fame.

Source: Deathrock.com

Clive from Gypsy 83 - yes he's a fictional character in a movie. And your point is what exactly?﻿

Source: Tumblr

John Koviak - all right, so I'm not old enough to remember when Propaganda was still a Goth magazine instead of... whatever it is now. ﻿But John Koviak was in there. A lot. Oh, and he's a musician, too.

Who else should Goth guys be Googling when they need an inspiration fix? Astrovamps, Peter Murphy, Nick Cave, Andrew Eldritch, Morbius, Clint Catalyst, David Bowie, Adam Ant, Lux Interior, Skinny Puppy, Trent Reznor, Voltaire, Lucas Lanthier, Gary Numan, DespairsRay, Johnny Rotten, Ian Astbury, Alice Cooper, Al.B.Damned, Joe Black, Jack Spooky, Ronny Moorings, Whiplasher Bernadotte, Victor Love - and yes, even Marilyn Manson. Also a member of the Gothic.net forums has gained some infamy for his incredibly DIYs, scroll down on this page to check out HauntedHouse. The above may not all be specifically 'Goth' but they do all have original, influential styles and sense of aesthetics.

Another new thing! Coveting! is a mini-series I'm going to post roughly monthly, where I'm going to turn the spotlight on sellers and craftspeople from all over the interwebs and show you their genius (and things I buy!). Let me know what you think. ;-)

To begin, allow me to introduce the fabulous Posiez, the brainchild of Queenie, who as well as having rather gorgeous hair is a talented artist, dollmaker and jewellery designer, and a friend of Jillian Venters of Gothic Charm School fame. Gothic Beauty readers may have spotted her recently in the magazine, too.

What can you expect from Queenie? Her Etsy shop contains such delights as badges and jewellery featuring her unique artworks, which would capture the heart of any Gothy girl, parasols with bats on (!), prints, wall decals, window clings, tote bags, coasters, ID cases, T-shirts and much much more! And check out the Pocket Full Of Posiez website, where you can admire Queenie's adorable artworks and ogle the limited editon dolls.

On her YouTube channel you can admire Gothy miscellania including picnics at the cemetery, Bats Day and club videos, and expostulation about the Goth scene of today. If you can't get enough of this Gothy goodness, try Queenie TV on Ustream, although they are currently on hiatus.

You can find the Posiez Etsy shop here, and I implore you to go take a look at the wonders within. I have a Posiez wishlist as long as my arm, seriously - how have I lived without a bat-and-cupcake window cling, one of her beautiful bat-frame necklaces, and a 'deadly cute fancy-schmancy pin' with bows, beads and other goodness?

Lastly, please admire my first Posiez purchase:

I know - a parasol this sheer is about as practical as a chocolate teapot as it does nothing to protect you from the sun, but isn't it gorgeous! This Posiez exclusive design is also available in opaque satin for those of you of a more practical nature.

It. Has. A. Bat. On. It. Also, it was cheap. A handmade parasol with box pleats and a bat on top, £20. No kidding. I paid an extra £20 to ship to the UK, but that was fair enough, good luck shipping a delicate parasol any cheaper than that. But £20. That's the same as my mass-produced Phaze parasol. I couldn't believe it.

I also have no complaints about the quality. The lace is pretty and soft, the box pleats are lovely and silky, I don't have any difficulty putting it up or down (and if you have seen me fighting with my umbrella you know how important this is to me). The handle is wood, not plastic, which is a nice touch. And it has a bat on it. I can't say that enough. (My coworker Doug has nicknamed me BatGirl. Anyone surprised?)

Yeah, it had to be done...

The boots are not from Posiez, I got them on eBay. But I love them.

Posiez answered my queries quickly and politely, the shipping was really fast considering it was coming halfway across the world, and honestly I couldn't love this parasol more. I can't wait to buy from Posiez again. Definitely five stars from me. <3

If 'spooky cute' is your raison d'etre, you need Posiez products in your life.

About Me

Amy Asphodel

My best friends say I'm girly which makes no sense because I don't even brush my hair. I had my first kiss in a glade of bluebells. My favourite perfume is vanilla which makes sense because old books smell of vanillin. I will hug anything that stays still long enough and firmly believe that life's too short for boring clothes. I really like to dance. I love stories, fluffy jumpers, bonfires, stars and tea. I know all the best people and am lucky to call them my friends and family. I seem to own a ridiculous amount of socks. I believe that normality is overrated and tattoos are art. I wear too much scent and play music too loud. I don't believe in perfection. I would probably be an evil genius if I could just stop putting my handbag in the fridge. I own bloomers and a top hat (or four). I'm not sure I believe in karma but I do like to be on the safe side. I may seem quiet when you first meet me but that's just how I lure my victims.